His father was the clergyman James Dana (1735–1812), who was a nephew of Richard Dana (1699–1772), a lawyer. Richard Dana was, in turn, a descendant through Caleb, the second son of Daniel, who was the youngest son of Richard Dana. The latter Richard Dana came from England, settled in Cambridge in 1640, and died there around 1695. According to family tradition, this Richard Dana was the son of a French Huguenot who settled in England in 1629.
On July 13, 1821, Dana married Mary (or Maria) Pomeroy Alsop, the widow of the poet Richard Alsop. Maria was the daughter of Eleazer Wheelock Pomeroy and Mary Wyllys.[2] Her brother, Samuel Wyllys Pomeroy, was the founder of the town of Pomeroy, Ohio, which was developed with the help of his son-in-law, Valentine Baxter Horton. Valentine Baxter Horton married Clara Alsop Pomeroy, who was a niece-by-marriage of Mr. Dana. The bimetalist Samuel Dana Horton was named after Mr. Dana, who was Valentine Baxter Horton's law tutor.
Dana was elected as a Federalist in 1810 to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James Hillhouse. He was reelected in 1814 and served from December 4, 1810, to March 3, 1821.[5] He was one of the 13 Senators who voted against war with Britain on June 17, 1812, but 19 Senators voted for war. In 1814, Dana was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society.[6]
Dana was mayor of Middletown from 1822 until his death in 1830. He was also the presiding judge of the MiddlesexCounty Court from 1825 until his death.[7]
Death
Dana died in Middletown, Middlesex County, Connecticut, July 21, 1830 (age 70 years, 158 days). He is interred at Washington Street Cemetery, Middletown.[8]
References
^"Samuel W. Dana". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved December 29, 2012.